In a year that has already seen celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of the birth of Tubby Hayes, the icing on the cake for many fans of the Britjazz sax legend is next week, and the publication of The Long Shadow of the Little Giant: The Life, Work and Legacy of Tubby Hayes, a biography of the saxophonist written by Simon Spillett.

The book, to be published by Sheffield-based academic publisher Equinox, draws on the primary sources of the memories of Hayes’ family, partners, friends and musical colleagues. Spillett also gained access to Hayes’ own archives.

Main chapters cover large chunks of the saxophonist’s career beginning in 1935, the year of Hayes’ birth, reaching 1955 by the end of chapter two. The subsequent three chapters each cover much shorter spells. And then from the fifth chapter onwards and forming a large part of the book, the 1960s, which spanned the most significant part of Hayes’ career, become Spillett’s chief concern. Then late into the book chapters 11 and 12 take the story from the end of the 1960s through to 1973 and the year Hayes died. The Long Shadow of the Little Giant also includes a discography.